Ball-bearing.



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MWL w? H. HESS.

BALL BEARING. APPLICATION FILED I'EB.21, 1906.

930,599. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

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HENRY HESS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL-BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application 'filed February 21, 1906. Serial No. 302,262.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Hnss, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new an increased carrying capacity 1nbearings of given dimensions, and other desirable results,while-retaining the advantages of the spaced or silent type of ballbearing.

My invention is explained hereafter more in detail in connection withtheaccompanying drawing, which illustrates exemphfying 4 structuresembodying my invention, and in which: I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a hearing of any suitable form,with my separators in place; Fig. 2, an end view of the same; Fig. 3, aside view of a single separator; and Fig. 4, a top view of the separatorof Fig. 3.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a bearing composed of an inner ring 1 and an outerring 2, provided respectively with races 3 and 4, in which are carried asuitable number of balls 5. Between each two adjacent balls is inserteda separator 6, formed conveniently from a blank of relatively-thin, flatspring metal. On each sideof each separator is provided an elastic.orflexible ball-engaging device, con.- veniently formed, as best shown.in Figs. 3 and 4, by removing a circular disk of metal from the centerof the blank, and cutting radiating-slits 7 at suitable intervals. Thespines 8 thus formed are bent alternately toward opposite sides of theblank, so that their ends form a series of circularly-disposed fingersadaptedto engage a segment of a ball. The separators so formed may beplaced between the balls of any of. a large variety of ball bearings,and I do not limit myself to their use in any s ecific bearing. Thespines 8 being of thin, ex-ible metal, permit a certain desirableamountof relative movement of the balls in the direction of theirrotation around the shaft. 1 Each separator is retained in positionindependently of the others by en 'agement of the s ines 8 with the' adjacent balls, but may e, if desired, easily sprung out. In inany cases itis desirable to connect the separators in a bearing, so as to preventaccidental dis lacement, limit their movement, etc. For t is purpose Imay provide ears 9 on each separator, each having a perforation 10. Awire or other retainer 11 is passed through the perforations of theseparators, one on each side of the bearing,

and the ears are-preferably so proportioned that the retaining Wires 11he near or within the limits of the bearing rings, as shown'in Fig. 1.Preferably a bend or kink 12 I is formed in the wire 11 where it passesthrough each ear, serving to limit motion of the sepa- 'rators inrelation toeach other and to the retainer to a desired extent. It isdesirable, however, to shape the kinks 12 as shown, so that a slightamount of movement of the separators is ermitted. 1

t will be 0 served that by reason of the method of constructionemployed, the lonigitudinal space occupied" by the separato s,

while they embody all other advantages hereinabove set forth, is verysmall, being considerably less than a ball diameter.

/ I contemplate any changes in the construction shown and describedwhich may be made Within the spirit of my invention, and

do not limit myself to points of detail.

What I claim is:

1. In a ball bearing, a separator formedfrom a sheet spring metal blank,having an approximately central portion of the metal removed, and slitscut radially therefrom, the spines so made being bent alternately in oposite directions, forming on each side of t 1e blank a series, ofelastic fingers adapted to engage a segment of a .ball and to retain theseparator in position, to prevent contact of two adjacent balls, and topermit desirable relative movement of said balls.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a separator for ball-bearings comrising a body of sheet metal provided on eac side with a plurality ofelastic fingers adapted to yieldingly engage the segment of a ball.

3. In a ball bearin a plurality of separators, each having a ada tedtoengage a segment of-a' ball, and a rators being placed between-each twoa cent. balls, and a retainer oneach side of t e ody of sheet metal,plurality of fingers on each side of the body,

- metal, a plurality of elastic fingers oneach side of the body, adaptedto engage a se ment of a ball, and a perforated ear at eac side, one ofsaid separators being placed between each-two adjacent balls, and a retainer' on each side of the bearing, passing through the perforations inthe ears on the corresponding side and so formed as to allow eachseparator a limited amount of motion.

5. Asa new article of manufacture, a separator for ball-bearingsconsisting of a body having on eachof two op osite sides a plurality ofyielding fingers a apted to engagea ball surface.

-6. In a ball bearin two bearing rin s pro-- vided with races, bal s inthe races am separators interposed between adjacent balls eachcomprising flexible fingers adapted to se arate said balls. a

testimony-whereof I have afii'xed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

. HENRY HESS.

Witnesses:

' THEO. H..MCCALLA',

C. F. MoCALLA.

